Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsasam’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsasam’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; yellow-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Zalsasam’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida,commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Zalsasam’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new cut flower Alstroemeriacultivars with desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive foliageand flower coloration and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in May, 2002, of aproprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number97-0915-004PN, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number99-0074-16, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newAlstroemeria was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a floweringplant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands inJune, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by rhizome divisionsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlandssince September, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this newAlstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsasam’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Zalsasam’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Yellow-colored flowers.    -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants ofthe female parent selection primarily in flower size as plants of thenew Alstroemeria have smaller flowers than plants of the female parentselection.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants ofthe male parent selection primarily in leaf size as plants of the newAlstroemeria have larger leaves than plants of the male parentselection. In addition, plants of the new Alstroemeria produce moreflowering stems per year than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of Alstroemeriahybrida ‘Zalsasenan’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,274. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands,plants of the new Alstroemeria differed primarily from plants of‘Zalsasenan’ in flower bud color as plants of the new Alstroemeria haddarker yellow-colored flower buds than plants of ‘Zalsasenan’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Alstroemeria , showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Alstroemeria.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringstem of ‘Zalsasam’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown inRijsenhout, The Netherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse in groundbeds. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from15° C. to 20° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 15° C. andlight levels averaged 5,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph anddescription had been growing for one year. The photograph and thedescription were taken in the late summer. Color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Zalsasam’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida            selection identified as code number 97-0915-004PN, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida            selection identified as code number 99-0074-16, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By tissue culture.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 60 days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; close to 155D in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.        -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 cm to            30 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth.            Color: Close to 155D.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy            appearance; vigorous growth habit.        -   Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.—About 80 to 90            days.        -   Number of flowering stems produced per year.—About 220 to            260.        -   Plant height.—About 125 cm to 165 cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 35 cm.-   Flowering stem description:    -   -   Aspect.—Erect.        -   Length.—About 112 cm to 148 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 7 mm to 9 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to 146B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Appearance.—Leaves asymmetrical; sessile.        -   Length.—About 12.3 cm to 18.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.5 cm to 4.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire; slightly undulate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:            Close to 147A; venation, close to 147A. Developing and fully            developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,            close to 147B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in            compound umbels. Flowers face mostly outwardly. Perianth            segments separate. Freely and continuously flowering.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the            spring in The Netherlands.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks; flowers not            persistent.        -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 12 to 16 days.        -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 4.5 cm to 5 cm.            Diameter: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color:            Close to 151D.        -   Umbel height.—About 15 cm to 20 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 25 cm to 27 cm.        -   Number of flowers per umbel.—About 8 to 24.        -   Flower diameter.—About 6.5 cm to 7.5 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 6.5 cm to 7.5 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 6.5 cm to 7 cm.        -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each            whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Outer            perianth, lateral segments: Length: About 5.5 cm to 6.2 cm.            Width: About 2.9 cm to 3.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:            Embedded pointed. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; weakly            undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, when opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 9A; towards the apex and venation,            greenish overtones; occasional stripes, close to 183A.            Color, when opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 9A; towards the apex and venation, greenish overtones.            Outer perianth, median segment: Length: About 5.8 cm to            6.2 cm. Width: About 3 cm to 3.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:            Embedded pointed. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; weakly            undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, when opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 9A; towards the apex and venation,            greenish overtones; occasional stripes, close to 183A.            Color, when opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 9A; towards the apex and venation, greenish overtones.            Inner perianth, lateral segments: Length: About 5.7 cm to            6.6 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm to 1.6 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate.            Apex: Pointed. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; weakly            undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, when opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 9A; towards the apex, greenish overtones;            stripes, close to 183A. Color, when opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 9A; venation, greenish            overtones; stripes, close to 183A. Inner perianth, median            segment: Length: About 6.1 cm to 6.3 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm            to 1.6 cm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Pointed. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire; weakly undulate. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, when opening            and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 9A; towards the            apex, greenish overtones; stripes, close to 183A. Color,            when opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 9A;            venation, greenish overtones; stripes, close to 183A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4 cm to 11 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm            to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Erect to about 30° C. from            vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.            Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther length: About 8 mm. Anther            diameter: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 152A. Pollen            amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 152B. Pistils:            Quantity per flower: One. Style length: About 3.4 cm to            4.5 cm. Style color: Close to 24D. Stigma color: Close to            15B. Ovary color: Close to 146A.        -   Fruit/seed.—Fruit and seed development has not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Alstroemeria.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about −5° C. to about 40° C.

1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsasam’ as illustratedand described.